Who wants to go out in the cold when you can snuggle up on the sofa with a seasonal vegetable stew and a thick blanket? Or entertain the kids with potato painting and adventure board games. There’s loads of environmentally friendly ways to turn your home into a haven this winter. Read on to find out how.
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Staying in is the new going out
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Tuck into a hearty home cooked dinner made from seasonal ingredients and discover the perfect antidote to the winter freeze. When the weather turns icy, there’s nothing better than a warming and nutritious meal to get you back to feeling your best. And if you use seasonal ingredients, you could give yourself an extra boost. Not only are seasonal ingredients great for our carbon footprints, they are also usually cheaper and may be better for you. Seasonal products are freshly picked at their peak, while exported ingredients are picked before they ripen so they can last the long journeys. Vitamins degrade over time and with storage, so the fresher the goods, the better (and tastier) they are for you.
You can find loads of free seasonal recipes to download online. The ‘Seasonal food recipes’ website has something for every budget and taste.
If you’d rather come up with your own dishes, the ‘Want to buy British?’ website lists all the British food available throughout the year. You can even pick which supermarket you shop at.
Get seasonal recipes to cook at home >
Find out what British food is available in the supermarkets >
Turn the TV off and get stuck into some good old fashioned fun – it will save you money and help you stop wasting energy. Board games, books, charades, cards, potato painting, Jenga, jigsaws…there’s lots of great ways to spend time with the family. Classic board games such as Trivial Pursuit, Monopoly, Cluedo and Scrabble are perfect for slightly older kids, while Operation and Twister work well for younger ages. If you want to be extra specially green, try one of the recycled board games from the Green Board Game Company.
Visit WHSmith for classic boardgames >
Buy a recycled board game>
If you have toddlers, why not have a go at potato painting? It’s really easy to set up and you can have hours of fun. All you need is a potato, a sharp knife for cutting out shapes in the potato, paper and paint. Adult supervision will be needed if children are carving their own potato shapes, or if you are worried about little fingers, cut the shapes for them. The fun (and messy) bit is the painting!
Find out more about potato painting >
Set the scene for romance by swapping electric lights for candlelight. Candlelight creates a beautiful ambience so don’t just save it for dinner times. Candles make a great backdrop for a cosy night in with a film or a relaxing bath. Scented candles let you enjoy aromatherapy at the same time, which can help to lift your mood and calm the mind.
Keep a jumper by the sofa to throw on any time you feel a chill. It’s a lot cheaper than heating bills and can sometimes be all you need to warm up. If you’re still nippy, grab a blanket and snuggle up on the sofa with your loved one, the pooch or a hot water bottle. You’re guaranteed to feel toasty and comfy in no time!
Make sure your heating and hot water is working as hard as possible.
Both your heating and hot water should only be set to come on when required. For most people this means first thing in the morning and for a while in the evening. The easiest way to set this up is through your heating programmer. It takes a little while for your home to cool down, so set you heating to turn off half an hour before you go out in the morning or to bed at night. You will still get all the heat you need, but will save some money on heating costs.
Check our Hot tips to see if your heating controls are set correctly and learn how to change them if they’re not.
Check your heating controls are set correctly >
People tend to use the kitchen a lot more in the winter months. But extra use doesn’t have to mean extra energy costs. There are tons of simple things you can do to maximize your energy consumption and keep your bills as low as possible:
Get more kitchen energy saving tips >
Draught proofing is one of the easiest ways to make your home warmer and stop wasting energy. It’s amazing how much heat can be lost through a little draught. There are a few different ways to check to see if you have draughts. On a windy day, feel around doors, windows and chimneys. If you can feel air passing, then you have a draught. You can also find them by wandering round your home with a lit candle, holding the candle high and then low as you go. The flame will bend and flicker in draughts, allowing you to pinpoint and plug the problem.
See how draught proofing can make a difference to your home >
Seasonal food
Get seasonal recipes to cook at home >
Find out what British food is available in the supermarkets >
Fun and games
Visit WHSmith for classic boardgames >
Buy a recycled board game >
Find out about potato painting >
Shop for scented candles >
Home improvements
Check your heating controls are set correctly >
Find out how to stop wasting energy in the kitchen >
See how draught proofing can make a difference to your home >
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